Valve-controlling means for water-closet apparatus



W. U. GRIFFITHS.

VALVE CONTROLLING MEANS FOR WATER CLOSET APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-14.1918.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

G How e1 UNIT WILLIAIVI U. GRIFFITH$, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

VALVE-CONTROLLING: MEANS FUR WATER-CLOSET APPARATUS.

Application filed February 14, 1918.

' invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve-ControllingMeans for ater-Closet Apparatus, of which the following is aspecification.

In the case of flushing apparatus for flushing water closet bowls andsimilar devices in which a siphon or equivalent structure is notemployed, it is desirable that means be employed for holding the valvewhich closes the port from the flush tank into the flush pipe in openposition, while the flushing action is taking place.

The object of my present invention is to provide an improvedconstruction of means for holding such valve in open position, while thewater is being emptied from the flush tank through the flush pipe to thewater closet bowl or similar structure or device for the purpose offlushing the same, which construction not only operates to prevent anunnecessarily loud noise when the valve contacts with its seat, but alsopermits such contact to take place with such force as to cause the valveto close tightly against its seat and completely shut oif the water fromthe flush tank to the flush pipe.

A further object of my invention is to provide a construction which maynot only be cheaply and economically constructed or built, but one whichis certain in its action, so as to prevent accidents and one which willalways perform the functions which it is intended to perform.

In order that my invention may be readily and clearly understood,reference should be had to the accompanying drawing in which I haveillustrated one form of a convenient embodiment of my invention.,However, it will be understood that my saidv invention is susceptibleof embodiment in otherforms of construction within the scope of theclaims.

In the drawing I have shown a vertical sectional view of the bottomportion of a flush tank, the devices embodyingmy invention being shownin elevation, and the sides and top of said tank being indicated by dotand dash lines.

Referring to the drawings 1 designates the bottom of a flush tank and 2a Water supply pipe for supplying Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 15, 1921.

Serial no. 217,078.

water thereto. 3 designatesavalve adapted to be controlled by means of apivoted cam device 4 having an arm 5 connected therewith to the outerend of which a float 6 is secured. The operation of the valve 3 is wellknown and needs no further description here.

The bottom 1 of the flush tank is providedwith an opening 8 into andthrough which a short section of pipe 9 projects. 7

The lower end portion of this section of pipe is screw threadedexternally whereby it is adapted to be connected with a flush pipe, thelatter having a connection at its opposite or lower end with a watercloset bowl or other device requiring to be flushed from time to time.The upper end of the section of pipe 9 projects a distance above thebottom 1 of the tank and is provided with a lateral flange 10 whichrests upon a washer 11 which extends around the section of pipe 9 andrests upon the bottom 1 of the tank at the edge of the opening 8therein. The annular flange 10 is drawn firmly against the washer 11 andthe latter against the bottom 1 of the tank by means of the binding nut12 in known manner.

15 designates an overflow pipe having connection with a hollowprojection extending laterally from the upper end of the section of pipe9 within the tank. The upper end of said pipe section 9 is provided withlateral projections 20 and 21. A lever 22 is provided with transverselyextending portion 23, which is pivoted at 2% to the lateral projections20.

A valve 25 is pivotally connected at 26 to the lever 22, the forwardswinging end of which lever extends a distance beyond such connection.The under side of the forward end portion of said lever is curved asindicated at 27 to form a curved surface which cocp'erates with thecurved surface 28 of the upper end portion of a skeleton arm 29 pivotedat 30 to the projections 21.

The curved surface 28 is formed upon the upper overhanging end portionof the skeleton arm 29, and the portion of said arm underneath the saidoverhanging portion is bent inwardly or hollowed out as indicated at 31,such inward bend beginning at a point a sufiicient distance above theupper end of the section of pipe 9 which constitutes the seat for thevalve 25 to permit the valve 25 to fall with such force against the saidupper end of the pipe 9 as will cause it to tightly close the upper endof said pipe.

The said skeleton arm 29 is provided with a float 33 which when the tankis filled or partially filled with water operates to cause or tend tocause pivotal movement of said arni toward the opposing curved surface27 upon the end portion of the lever 22. The extent of such movement ofthe lever 29 is limited by the stop 34: which contacts with one of theprojections 21.

The valve 25 is shown as being in closed position by the dash and dotlines in the drawing in which position the forward upper end of lever 22is situated in the recess or space underneath the overnanging upper endportion of the arm 29.

lVhen it is desired to flush a water closet bowl or other device thevalve 25 is opened by lifting lever 22 through the medium of the link 35and the crank arm 36. In moving to open position the swinging end oflever 22 contacts with the overhanging end portion of arm 29 to causeoutward pivotal swinging movement thereof. As the lever 22 movesupwardly the arm 29 moves inwardly under the influence of float 33, sothat the surface 28 of the overhanging end portion of lever 29 pressesconstantly and firmly against the surface 27 of said lever. The arm '29under the influence of float 33 holds the lever 22 in elevated positionuntil the water is emptied sufiiciently from the tank to permit thefloat 33 to fall or move downwardly toward the left (having reference tothe drawing) carrying the upper overhanging projecting portion of arm 29away from lever 22, so as to permit the surface 27 to slide downwardlyover surface 28 until the said surface 27 reaches the lower end ofsurface 28, after which the lever 22 falls downwardly under theinfluence of gravity with suflicient rapidity to cause valve 25 tostrikewith sufficient force against the upper end of the section of pipe9 to cause a tight and complete closure of said valve.

The surface 27 is permitted to disengage surface 28 a distance above the1111361 end of the section of pipe 9 just sufiicient to permit the valve25 to strike with the force necessary to eifect a tight closure thereof,butnot with sufiicient force to produce an unnecessarily loud andobjectionable noise.

I claim V 1. The combination of a valve structure having a portionprovided with a curved cam like surface, an arm provided with anoverhanging projecting portion at its upper end having a curved surfaceadapted to contact with the curved cam like surface upon the said valvestructure,the said arm being bent or extended inwardly to form a spacebeneath the said overhanging projecting portion to permit the said valvestructure to move uninterruptedly and unretarded into closed position,and means for causing movement of the said arm in a direction toward thesaid valve structure, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a lever pivoted at one end, a valve connected withsaid lever at a point intermediate its ends, the outer swinging end ofsaid lever projecting beyond said valve, an arm having anoverhangprojecting upper end portion which is adapted to contact withthe opposing swinging end of said lever, the said overhanging projectingportion terminating a distance above the seat for said valve whereby thelatter may be permitted to fall through a distance suliicient to cause acomplete and tight closure thereof against its seat, and means tendingto cause movement of said arm in a direction toward the opposing end ofthe said lever, substantially as described.

3. In means for controlling the outlet valve for a water closetapparatus, the combination of a lever pivoted at one end, a valveconnected with said lever at a point intermediate its ends said leverprojecting beyond the said valve, means for elevating the said lever andvalve from closed to open position, a pivoted arm situated adjacent tothe swinging end of said lever, said arm being provided with anoverhanging projecting portion at its upper end and with a hollowed outportion underneath the said overhanging projecting portion, the saidoverhanging projecting portion being adapted to contact with theadjacent opposing swinging end portion of said lever and terminating ata point to permit the said lever and the valve carried thereby to fallthrough a distance suiiicient to cause contact of said valve against itsseat with force sufiicient to effect a tight closure thereof, and afloat secured to said arm and tending to cause pivotal movement thereofin a direction toward the adjacent opposing swinging end of the saidlever, substantially as described.

4. The combination ofapivotally supported valve for closing a'portleading from a flush tank, said valve being adapted to be moved into andout of closed position, and a pivoted arm for holding said valve in openposition after it has been opened, said arm being provided with a curvedportion which contacts with a part of the valve structure and which isadapted to be gradually disengaged from the said valvestructure topermit the latter to close with a slow movement until it is relativelynear its closed position when it is released and permitted to fall intoclosed position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. In a structure of the character described, the combination of apivot-ally supported valve structure for closing a port leading from awater tank, means for moving the said valve into open position, apivoted arm adapted to contact with a part of the valve structure, saidarm having means for regulating the descending movement of the saidvalve structure to a point relatively near the closing position thereof,means having connection with said arm and adapted to control themovements of the same, whereby the said arm is adapted to contact with apart of the valve structure and hold the valve in open position and tocontrol the descending movement thereof toward its closed position to apoint relatively near the closing position thereof, and the said armreleasing the said valve structure at the end of such controlledmovement, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. In a. structure of the character described, the combination of avalve for closing a port leading from a water tank, a pivoted lever forsupporting said valve, the outer swinging end of said lever beingprovided with a curvilinear cam-like surface, means for moving the saidvalve into open position, a pivoted arm for engaging the outer endportion of the said lever to hold it in open position, said arm having aproject ing cam-acting surface at its upper inner end portion whichcooperates with the said curvilinear cam-like surface of the said leverduring the first part of the downward movement of the valve and controlssuch movement, and the said forwardly projecting surface portion of thesaid arm terminating so as to permit an unretarded falling movement ofthe said lever and valve from a point above the closed position of thelatter, and a float connected with the said arm, the influence of thewater in the tank thereon controlling the pivotal movement of the saidarm, substantially as described.

7. In a structure of the character described, the combination of apivoted valve structure adapted to close a port leading from a tank,means for moving said valve structure into open position, an arm pivotedat one end and contacting with said valve structure at its opposite endfor controlling the closing movement of said valve structure, the saidstructure and arm being pivoted at points on opposite sides of the said.port and being adapted toswing toward and from each other, such swingingmovements being toward and from said port, and mean tending to causemovement of said arm toward said structure.

8. In a structure of the character described, the combination of apivoted lever provided with a valve adapted to close a port leading froma tank, means for moving said lever into position to open the saidvalve, a pivoted arm for controlling the closing movements of said leverand valve, the said lever and arm being pivoted at points on oppositesides of said port and being adapted to swing toward and from eachother, such movements being toward and from said port, the said armbeing provided with an overhanging cam-like portion adapted to engagethe outer swinging end of said lever when the latter is in elevatedposition to open said valve, the said portion being adapted to releasethe said lever when the latter has reached a point at which the valve issituated relatively near its closed position, and means tending to causemovement of the said arm toward the said lever.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing ag my invention I have hereuntoset my hand this 6th day of February, 1918, A. D.

"WILLIAM U. GRIFFITHS.

